Traction device for skis



I I| 1 I I l d ae 6 aa Bo fl 4 June 14, 1938. J, JERNS, JR 2,120,363

TRACTION DEVICE FOR SKIS Filed May 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I L" J'l n INVENTOR Nicholasdflernfiflm 59 BY 1 .5 7

ATTORNEYS June 14, 1938. N. J. JERNS, JR

TRACTION DEVICE FOR S KIS Filed May 6; 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiddernzdn y (\TTORNEYS NiahBelalNVENTOR Patented June 14, 1938 UNETED STATES eater QFFICEV 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of skiing equipment and more particularly to a traction device for skis.

Until very recently skiing has been largely a matter of transportation in those countries where snow is abundant for many months of the year. Now, however, it has become a sport which is indulged in by a great number of people. In the past, ski equipment was produced principally by hand work of skilled artisans and the traction devices provided were of the type, usually carefully hand made, to be slipped on over the skis at the time they were used. They were in the nature of a bandage, or a bag, having roughened surfaces or cleets positioned on the bottom of the skis. Other devices have been produced using metal members standing out from the sides of the skis and extending downwardly to engage the snow. Those observed were characterized by requiring considerable time to put on or take off and, further, where metal or wooden members were used, they extended permanently out from the side of the ski so that when the ski was being used in the normally intended manner there was always a drag that interfered with the free running of the ski.

My device is to overcome these deficiencies and to provide a traction device that can be made under quantity production methods that will be 20 simple, foolproof, will provide positive traction,

and which when not being used for traction purposes, will lie wholly within the upper margin of the ski runner so that it will in no way interfere with the proper functioning of the ski. 30 My present structure as shown in the accompanying drawings lends itself particularly to production by metal stampings. This has a two-fold advantage in that the devices may be produced very economically and secondly that they will be light and tough, both of which are very desirable characteristics in this type of equipment.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a ski with my device attached thereto showing the same in its normal position of use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view similar in part to Figure 1 but with the traction device in its stowed position as it is normally carried when not in use.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of a ski with my device in the position it assumes when being used as a traction device.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, in elevation, substantially along the center line of the ski but showing the traction device removed.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of my traction device, having an extra bend which adapts it more particularly to hillside Work in that it provides against side-slippage as well as slipping forward or backward.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a ski with one of my devices shown attached in its traction position.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the locking mechanism which holds a modified form of my traction device in place.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a slightly modified form of traction device in which the device is made with a square shank member in stead of being stamped entirely from a fiat plate.

Figures 10, 11, and 12 show various stages in the operation of a modified form of my device, Figure 10 being a vertical cross-section, Figure 11 a top plan View, and Figure 12 a longitudinal section taken along the major axis of the ski.

Figures 13, 14, and 15, illustrate a further modified form of my traction device, showing the sequence of steps in the operation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, It designates the base plate of my device. This member forms the supporting framework of the means that locks and secures my traction device to the ski. It is preferably screw fastened to the ski as by screws I8 and may be placed at any convenient place on the ski. At present the preferred arrangement seems to be to place it ahead of the foot rest portion. In the forms shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the base plate I6 is preferably provided with an upstanding portion 2% which is bent back upon itself to provide, in effect, a slot which will hold the traction device proper 22 in a substantially vertical position. For most purposes it seems best to incline the same slightly as shown in Figure 4. Traction plate 22 is held in the desired position by means of an eccentrically mounted cam locking lever 24 which is pivotally supported as at 26 from lugs formed from, or secured to, plate It. The construction of this member is probably best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 where it is shown respectively in the locked and in the released position. Below pivot 26 plate 16 is deformed as at 28 so as to provide, in effect, a second or horizontal slot so that the traction plate 22 may be inserted in the slot 29 thus formed, and when so placed will lie fiat on top of the ski where it is entirely out of the way and will in no manner interfere with the most satisfactory operation of the ski being used in the normal manner. When plate 22 is inserted in slot 29 it will be observed from a study of Figure 4 that lever 24 has the downwardly extending cam portion 30 which will engage plate 22 in its horizontal position and lock it securely against movement.

Traction plate 22 in its simplest form is probably best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and consists of a substantially U-shaped plate having the positioning bar portion 32, the traction bar proper 34, and the connectin ortion 36.

There are certain conditions under which it may be desirable to modify plate 32, to make it more adaptable for certain specific purposes. For instance, in Figure 6 I have illustrated a form in which in addition to the structure shown, Figures 2 and 3, I have added a fourth portion, 38-, which would normally be disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. This, it is be lieved, will be understood will give full assurance that there will be no side slipping of the ski when side hills are being negotiated. Further, to add rigidity it may in certain instances be desirable to form strengthening ribs as 40- which, preferably, should run the length of the plate.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modified form of my traction plate in that the plate proper as 42 is secured to, preferably, a square shank 44 although any regular polygon section could be used. When this form is employed slot 46 would, of course, be the same shape as the cross-section of shank 44 and it could be placed in the vertical position or horizontal position, or if instead of being square, a hexagonal or octag onal form were used, adjusted positions might be employed. Any of these, however, would require that looking lever 48 need only have one cam face as it would always operate in the same manner, whether the traction device was in a vertical, horizontal, or other adjusted position.

In Figures 10, 11, and- 12, I have illustrated a modified form of construction in which traction plate 50 is cut out as at 52 and provided at the extreme end of leg 32 with a stop member 54'. The sequence of operation is probably most easily understood by a study of Figures 10-, 11, and 12,

wherein the dotted line position shown in Figure 10 is the normal position of use. To retract the device, and put it on top of the ski, plate 50 is pulled to the left as viewed until stop 54 abuts a coacting stop portion 55 formed as part of guide member 20, then after the showing of Figure 12 it may be revolved up to the horizontal position where it then functions as the form shown in Figures 1 to 5.

In Figures 13, 14, and 15 I have illustrated a further modified form in which traction plate 51 is provided with a pivot pin 58. This pivot pin in turn operates within a slot as formed in the upright guide members 6! and 62. Figure 13 illustrates how this member would be carried. It would have the objection of being disposed well above the surface of the s11 but for certain uses that may not be a serious objection, then when it is desired to use the same it is hinged down about pin 58 after the showing of Figure 14 until bar 32 is substantially horizontal then the whole plate assembly 51 is moved to the right as viewed until the final position of rest as illustrated in I5 is obtained. Lever 48 is moved to the locking position and the device is then ready for use.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a ski, of a base plate on said ski formed with a vertical and a horizontal slot, and a detachable traction arm adapted to alternately engage one of said slots.

2. The combination with a ski, of a base plate on said ski formed with a vertical and a horizontal slot, and a detachable traction arm adapted to alternately engage one of said slots, and means for retaining said arm in the selected slot.

3. The combination with a ski, of a base plate on said ski formed with a vertical and a horizontal slot, a detachable traction arm adapted to alternately engage one of said slots, a cam and operating means therefor on said base plate adapted to frictionally engage and retain said arm.

NICHOLAS J. JERNS, JR. 

